Wrapping machine



`APY 17, 1945l L.`v.v\lN,H|PPLE Erm. 2,374,148

, WRAPRING MACHINE SASheets-Sheet 1 Filed Hay 19, 1942 mwN . l Irl l lng?- l...

INVENTORS lill-fili ...rFlllrlllll ATTORNEK L V. WHIPPLE ETAL April 17, .1945.

`WRAPPING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1942 5 sheets-sheet s April 17, 1945. l. v. WHIIPLE Er Al.

. Filed ,May 19, 1942 www www w www www www www w ...www www m m m ,m M l. III- w p m w@ ww www V. www N ,www m wl w www ww. www www w @Qu N SMN ww 4 www www www www www4 NNN Patented Apr. 17, 1945 WRAPPING MACHINE Leon v. Whipple and James n. weils, merel Park,

N'. Y.. assignors to American Machine and I `Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application May 19, 1942, Serialo. 443,584.

v29 Claims.

This invention relates to wrapping machines suitable for wrapping any kind of package, object or article, such as bread, boxes, etc., and

, consists chiey in improvements in the mecha.-

nisxn for handling the wrapper at various stages of the web feeding and wrapping operations, and to mechanism for draping orpositioning the wrapper in the path of an article or object to be wrapped.

The subject matter of this invention relates to wrapping machines in general and more specically to wrapping machines' of the type shown in Schmitt Patent No. 1,851,295, grantedMarch 29, 1932, in which articles being'wrapped aren moved against a draped wrapper onto a lifter table, raised, and transported through the machine past suitable folding and sealing mechanisms to complete each package, 4although themechanism shown and described is readily adaptable for use with other typesof wrapping machines.

In wrapping machines of this type, and' in bread wrapping machines' in particular there is often some diiculty in properly associating the wrapper with the loaf so that the least amount of wrapper will be used per loaf and the wrapper will be disposed properly relative thereto before the loaf to be wrapped `engages the wrapper and moves therewith onto the lifter table. 'I'his is duel in part to the fact that each loaf may vary somewhat in dimensions, vand when a machine is being run at high speed it is quite possible that more diiiiculty will be experienced if'the wrapper is not properly fed or disposed with respect to the loa'f to be wrapped.

In wrapping machines of the type under discussion in which a lap roller is utilized to pull the wrapper and drape it in the path of anoncomingloaf, it so happens that at high speeds there 'may be an uneven pull on the wrappers. ThalI is, the rapidly moving lap roller when moving into engagement with the paper and exerting a downward pull thereon may cause. the paper to shift laterally with the net result that the web is not properly disposed with respect to the loaf or article being' wrapped and hence imperfect packages are forme It also happens in a machine' employing an oscillating laproller, that this type of lap roller,

'According to our invention we have provided a novel lap roller mechanism in which one or more lap rollers are mounted on endless traveling members, such as chains, and are operated in timed relation with-the movement of the lifter table of the wrapping machine in such a way that during each cycle'of the machine one lap roller moves into engagement with the wrap'- yper and travels therewith in a closed unidrectional path to dispose the wrapper properly with respect to the next article to be wrapped. Our mechanism is yrugged in construction, is simple to adjust, and thereby makes it possible to always feed the correct length of wrapper web. f

At the same time the lap roller or rollers arev mounted for a constant length stroke therebyv and disposing the paper in the path of an article to be wrapped.- l

Our invention also consists in the. provision of a novel lap roller paper handling mechanism for use in a wrapping machine in which each lap roller or rollers, as the case may be, moves through an endless path in a single direction in order to engage the paper simultaneously across its width, and travel therewith to dispose the web in the path of an article to be wrapped and which rolleror rollers because of its conwhich moves back rapidlyto inoperative position following its cycle of operations', may strike' one edge of the paper before the other thereby causing an imperfect feed of the web, andv also the cut end of the draped wrapper may'iiy upward due to the engagement therewith of the rapidlyl moving lap roller as'it moves back to its inoperative position above 'the infeed runway -struction continues its lmovement away from the paper after the web has been cut, and thereby eliminates any danger of ilyine' paper which might cause an interruption in the operation of the wrapping machine or the formation of imperfect packages. Y

It is'a further object of our linvention to provide a wrapping machine utilizing a pluralityA of lap rollers mounted on endless traveling members and to control the movement of the traveling members suchv that during each cycle of the machine a single roller is responsible for the proper feed and disposition of a wrapper in the path of an article to be wrapped.'

It is a, further object of our invention'to provide a wrapping machine employing an. improved paper handling mechanism which elimi- .nates the danger of breakage tof parts andgreatly lessens the danger oi ying paper which has been present in existing machines of this t type. t

It is a further object oi' our invention to provide improved lap roller mechanism fora wrapping machine which employs endless chains providedl with a plurality of equally spaced lap rollers. each roller' beine operative during recurring cycles of the machine to dispose the wrapper web properly with respect to articles to bewrapped.

Our invention also consists inthe provision of novel lap roller operating mechanism in which each lap roller has a constant length stroke and wherein` means are providedI for effecting easy adlustment of the stroke position of the several rollers. l

Our invention also consists in the provision of novel wrapper handling mechanism for a wrapping 'machine including simplified adjustingl `mechanism whereby with considerable simplicity an operator will be able to control the correct length of the inner` lap o! the wrapper on each package.

Our mechanism also permits elimination of plates or gap closers which heretofore have been considered as essential for proper introduction of articles, such as loaves of bread, onto the lifter table while at the same time we maintain an acceptable lap roller path.

With vthese and other objects not speciilcally mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forthin the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a y Figure 5 is a -view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 2 showing certain details of the lap roller mechanism;

Figure 6 is a plan'view taken on line 6 6 oi' Figure 5I Figure 'I is a partial front elevational viewof a detail showing the general arrangement oi the cutting mechanism and lap roller unit;v and Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, are detail views illustrating diagrammatically the position of the package and wrapping material during various stages of a wrapping cycle.

Referring to the drawings which show a preferred embodiment of ourinvention,I the side frames 2- of the wrapping machine support a drive shaft4 mounting a gear 8"meshing with a gear 8 on cam shaft I6 which supports a cam I4 provided on oppositeV sides with cam tracks I6 and I8. Mounted on fulcrum shaft I2 is a lever 22 Vprovided with cam follower 20 operating in track I6 of cam I4, and pivotally joined to lever 22 is an adjustable connecting rod 24 pivotally connected to lifter table 2B swingably mounted on shaft 28 supported in side frames 2.. A lever 32 fulcrurned on shaft I2 is provided with a cam follower 30 traveling in track I 8 of cam I4 and adjustably connected to lever 22 is a connecting rod 34 whichis joined at its other end to lever 38 fulcrumed on a cross shaft 38 supported by side frames 2, and provided with an arm 40 con-y nected by a link 42 to reciprocating plunger 4l guided in members 44 of a bracket 45 carried by cross rods C of the machine. Plunger 43 at its inner end ris provided with a pusher plate 41 adapted to engage each article to be wrapped as it is fed into the machine by suitable mechanism As an article is moved by pusher 41 onto lifter table 26, itengages aback article supporting device having va, back supporting plate.5| carried by the lifter table 26. This back supporting plate may be of the same general construction as that described in co-pending application, Serial No. 418,880 iiled November 13, 1941, by J. Stein and L. Whipple for Bread wrapping machine, but' since it forms no part of the present invention.- further showing and description thereof is deemed unnecessary. It is to be noted, however, that the back article supporting device 50 is op,- erated in proper timed relationship to position it in article engaging position pn" the lifter table in order to assist in the wrapping of each article being moved thereon, and 'to otherwise perform its designated functions. Also mounted on lifter table 26 isa rod 52 which supports a top tension plate 54 adjustably mounted by any suitable means, such as a set screw 55 on rod- 52. The position of plate 54 is adjusted according to the height of articles being wrapped.

After the article with its wrapper (as shown in Figure 1) has been moved onto lifter table 26, the latter is swung about its fulcrum 28 into the full line position of Figure 1 and the wrapper is handled and cut by means to be described hereinafter.

With the lifter table in its up position, the

40 wrapper W is partly folded around the package P.

with an end hanging down from the rear side of the partially wrapped article, as best seen in Figures 1, 9 and l0. The article is now acted upon by suitable transfer fingers II2 provided with pushers I i3 carried by endless traveling members' such as sprocket chains IIA running over driven sprocket II5 and idler sprockets (not shown). The pushers I I3 engage the back supporting plate 5I and advance it to the lfront edge of the table. As table 26 starts downward, pushers II3 continue forward passing above the back supporting plate 5I and engage the article advancing said article off the table. As the partially wrapped package is advanced a slight distance along the table 26, a cam actuated knife |62 moves towards a ledger plate |63 carried by the table 26, coacts therewith, and severs the wrapper W. 'I'he continued movement of the pusher II3 advances the article from the table and a cam actuated clamp bar H2' aids in keeping the bottom lap of the wrapper aboutthe article. The mechanism for operating knife |62 and bar I'I2 may be similar to that shown in the above referred to Schmitt patent.

before the partially wrapped article leaves the lifter table 26, the latter begins to descend and thereby permits pusher II3 to clear the back of Y 2,314,148 the downwardly moving backsimporting-.plate gardless of its width, the 'fingers do not move the partially wrapped article from the table until it dwells in its upper position (Figure 1). -This is accomplished -by means of a spacer |26 secured .foldway over supporting surface |42, so thatrewrapper -.vvebs are.. fed from supplymeels R...R'.

downwardly across the discharge end of infeed guideway 46 so that as an article is advanced by pusher 41 it will strike against the draped wrapper W' and move therewith onto lifter table.` The web feeding device may be similar to that lshown in Schmitt Patent No. 1,841,295 and may feed one or more w'ebs from supply rollers R, R' (Figure l). The web feeding mechanismis driven on sprocket shaft and equipped with a boltl |21 passing through an elongated slot |29 in gear |3|. It willbe seen that when bolt |21 is loosened, the shaft |30 and its attached members can be turned to adjust the` fingers .||2 to engage the articles being wrapped earlier or later yas required.

` Gear |9| is driven by a gear |32 mounted on a shaftv|33 carried' by a suitable bracket (not shown) attached to one of the side frames 2. Shaft |39 also carries an a'rm |35 :provided with- Y an elongated slot |36 adapted to engage a roller shown in Figure 1. The motion imparted vto arm and its coacting members is such that as the fingers ||2 engage the package, the conveyor ||4 moves rapidly thus advancing articles being wrapped from the table, but as the fingers con# tinue to advance, the speed of the conveyor grad Aually decreases thus moving the articles more slowly through the folding zone of the machine -(not shown) and over the support. |42 to insure proper wrapping and sealing of each package. While only a single chain ||4 and sprocket ||5 have been'shown, it is to be understood that there are two such chains and sprockets, one -being mounted adjacent each of the side frames 2, both of which chains are driven by means ofsprockets 'from sprocket |56 on shaft 0 by means of a chain |51 tracking sprocket |56 on shaft |55 suitably mounted between the frames 2 of the machine. A- belt |53 travels over pulleys' |54 0n shaft |55 and 'roller |52 over which roller web R is trained. Webs R and R' then are guided over roller |46 which mounts a pulley |49 driven by means of a crossed belt |6| running on a pulley |46 .on roller |52. A gravity roller |63 movable' in a slot- |65 formed in side frames 2 rides in the loop -of paper formed by slack in webs W, W and assists in 'maintaining the proper paper balance as the web material fed from reels R, R' is pulled over table |59 past rollers |60 by the lap roller mechanism much in the manner described in said Schmitt application.

One end of shaft |94 is journalled in an elongated block or support |96 fixed to frames 2 by means of bolts |98 and suitable spacing collars tail. If desired, however, a single lap roller migh be used.

The lap roller mechanism, just described, is

. driven in proper timed relationship with the in'- Referring to Figures 1, and 8 to 11, inclusive, i

it will be seen that mounted beneath the supporting table |42 of the article foldway is a lap roller mechanism employed for feeding and disposing the wrapper properly with respect to each article moving into the machine in order that a wrapper may be positioned for engagement by' each article moving intol the machine. The laproller mechanism employs two-lap rollers, 'although more could be used if desired, mounted for movement in a single direction in a closed path feedl pusher 41, lifter table 26 and other synchronized parts of the machine by means of a cam 202 provided with atraick 204 in which travels a cam follower 206 mo'untedon an arm pf lever 200 fulcrumed on shaft I2 and provided with an arm 2|0 to which is pivotally connected a vrack- 2|2. 'A plurality of holes 2|3 may be formed in arm 2 I0 in order to adjust the amount of travel of chains if such is desirable.

Rack 2|2 is guided by a flanged roller 2|4 rotatably mounted on a stud 2|6 supported in block |96, and provided with a head 2|6 having 'a bore 2|9 for purposes described hereinafter. Stud 2|6 is fixed in proper position in block |96 by means of a set s crew 220 and in this manner the position of bore 2|9 is adjusted with respect to a push-out rod 22|, to be described hereinafter.

Rack-2H meshes with a gear 222 mounted on stud 224 fixed-in block |96 (Figure 6).v Gear f 222 is 'provided with a hub 22s which may be a to and from wrapper handling position. According to the preferred form of our invention, side frames 2 are provided with abutments |62 located ashort distance beneaththe plate |42. .These abutments supDOrt shaft |66 secured by pins |63 in abutments |62 extending inwardly from the frame and having secured thereto arms |64 in the ends of which are screwed or otherwise suitably affixed I stud shaft` |66 mounting sprockets |66 tracked by chains |90 running on sprockets`|92 mounted on shaftv |94;v

The wrapping web may be fed by any suitable means and located properly for operation thereon by the lap rollers and articles being moved by pusher 4'l across infeed guideways46 against a wrapper and upon` lifter table 26. It is evident that in this type of wrapping machine the wra i separate member, or as shown in the drawings formed integrally therewith. Hub 226 is provided with a cut-out portion or recess 226 with'which gear 244 is provided with a sleeve extenson 245 (see Figures 3, 3a and4 6) supported in bearing 246 in block |96 and extendingthrough frames 2 (Figure 3).

From time to` time it may be necessary `for. some reason, such as diilferencsl in size or shape of articles or loaves of bread going through the Gear -236 meshes with 'gear 244 loosely mounted on shaft I94. In the form illustrated machine, to adjust the position of the lap rollers |9| relative to the lifter table 26 and knife |62, and change the position of the lap rollers so as to retard or advance them for proper operation'in the machine cycle. For this reason mechanism has been provided for disconnecting the driving relationship between gear 244 and sprocket |92 in order that sprocket |92 may be turned independently of gear 244 to effect theadiustment oi' the lap rollers |9`|a, |9|b.

Referring to Figures 3 and 3a which show in detail the make-up of the lap roller adjusting mechanism,'it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment, fixed to the end of shaft |94 by means of a set screw, is an adjusting member designated generally 248, having a knurled hand turning wheel 250 and a lock clamp portion 252 adapted to engage sleeve 245. The arms of clamp wrapper web extending downwardly from the portion 262 are provided with` a. set screw 254 for securing gear 244 and sprocket |92 in any desired adjusted position. When, therefore, it is desired to advance or retard chains |90 and lap rollers |9|,fscrew 254 is loosened thereby releasing gear 244 from driving relationship with sprocket |92 and the proper adjustment can be made. While the above described chain and lap ed in a similar manner on a block |91 iixed to frame 2 (Figure 2).

Pawl 232 is moved out of engagement with recess 228 during the operation of the machine in orde; to stop the movement of chains |90 and lap rollers |9| carried thereby. A reference to Figures 5 and 6 shows that knock-out rod 22|, which slides in bore 2|9, is adjustably mounted'on a yoke 210 riding on shaft I0 normally held in proper position thereon by meansof a spring 223 encircling rod 22| and bearing against head 2I6 and a'plate 21| secured to yoke 210. A cam follower 212 mounted on a stud 214 in yoke 210 tracks a cam 211- xed to a hub 218 on shaft I0 by means of screw 280. On the other side of the yoke 210, stud 214 carries a follower 282 which is guided in a track 284 oi' stationary cam 286 fastened by screws 280 to hub 290 of side frame 2.

Figures 8, 9, andA 1l illustrate diagram-- matically the 'various phases of operation of the lap roller mechanism and the other parts of the machine which cooperate therewith in the envelopment of articles in wrappers. In Figure 8 an article has been pushed by pusher 41 against a draped wrapper W' onto lifter table 26. The upper lap roller |9|a dwells beneath knife |62 and as the lifter table moves to the position shown in Figure 9,.the remainder of the wrapper web. which is to form the' lwrapper for the specic article being handled, is pulled down over the clamps |12, |18 and between rollers |60 and pulls the free end of the web which .has been fed from supply reels R., R' downwardly between rollers wardly to assumethe position just vacated by lap roller lala, and (as shown' in Figure 11) .at the end of the operating cycle, lap roller |9Ib has assumed the position formerly occupied by lap roller |9|a or the position of laproller |9|a in Figure 8. When the roller |9|a reaches the position shown in Figure 11, the high portion. 211 of cam 216 engagescam follower 212 which causes yoke 210 to move knock-out rod 22| forward intoengagement with the tail of pawl 232, tooth 230 f is forced out of recess 22B and movement of chains |90 is stopped. y

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for theparticular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wrapping machine having mechanism for wrapping an article in the free end of a web of wrapping material, a member mounted for travel e across the path of a succeeding article to be fourth side of the article and clamped between clamps, such as rollers |12, |16. Following 'this operation, rack 2|2 is moved downwardly (Figure 4) and because of the engagement oi tooth 230 on pawl 232 with recess 228 of hub 226, the coaction between gears 236 and 244 is such that sprocket chains |90 are moved and the lap roller |9|a (Figure 8) moves into engagement with the wrapped while said Erst-named article is partially wrapped within the free end of said wrapper, means supporting said member for movement in a closed unidirectional path, means for advancing said article to complete the circumferential wrapping of said article in said wrapper, and means 4 into said machine, and mechanism for wrapping an article inthe free end of a web of wrapping material draped in the path of articles introduced into said machine, means for advancing the partially enwrapped articleto complete the circumferential wrapping of said wrapper thereabout with a portion of said web projecting outwardly away from said article, a traveling member arranged to engage said projecting portion of said web, spaced conveyor elements supporting said member for movement in a closed unidirectional path, .and means for driving said elements to move said member in a closed unidirectional path and in a single direction to pull a portion of said web and drape said pulled portion'web in the path of the next article of the succession to be wrapped.

3. In a wrapping machine, means for supporting a portion of a web of wrapping material in the path of an article to be wrapped, a web displacing member, spaced conveying means mounting said member transversely of said web for movement into engagement with saidl web and across the path of articles ,to be wrapped, means for moving said article into engagement with said portion of said web to partially enwrap said asunto article. means forl holding another portion of said web against endwise movement. and means operative after said partial wrapping of said article for moving said conveying means to travel v said member in a closed unidirectional path toengage said-web and dispose another portion of said web in the path of the next article to be wrapped.

4. In a wrapping machine. means for supporting a portion of a continuous web of wrapping material in the path of an article to be wrapped. a web vtion to said wrapping guide. means for supporting displacing member, conveying' means mounting said member transversely of said'web for engagement therewith,rmeans for associating said article with said portion of said web. and means operative after said portion of saidweb has been associated with said article for moving said conveying means to travel'said member in a closed path to engage another portion of said web and dispose said portion of said web in the unidirectional path of the next article to be wrapped.

5. In a wrapping machine having spaced side frames. an infeed guide, a wrapping guide and an e verse wrapper engaging rods extending across' said machine and fastened to said chains, means for moving an article from lsaid infeed guide against a draped wrapper and onto said transfer to partially wrap said article, means for moving said transfer to deliver said partially wrapped article to said wrapping guideway, and means fork moving said chains to cause one of said rods to form a loop in said web, means for cutting said web adjacent one end of said loop whereby to disposeanother portion of said web in the path 'of v the next article to be wrapped.

6. In a wrapping machine having spaced side a wrapping guide located at another level positioned between said frames, Ian article transfer moving between said guides for transferring articles from said infeed guide to said wrapping guide, wrapper displacing mechanism mounted between said guides, said. mechanism including endless conveyors adjacent said side frames, wrapperengaging members carried by said conveyors and spaced therealong, means for moving an article from said infeed guide onto said transfer and against a positioned wrapper for deliveryto said wrapper guide, means for holding` said web extended between said articles and members. and means for moving said conveyors to cause one of said membersto engage said extended web and to travel from a position adjacent said wrapping guide to a position4 below said'infeed guide and thereby displace a portionof said web relative to said partially wrapped article and dispose the same in the path of the next article to be wrapped.

7. In a wrapping machine having an infeed guide located at one level. a wrapping guide located at another level, and wrapper web support means, an article transfer moving between said guides for transferring articles'from said infeed guide to said wrapping guide, wrapper-displacing mechanism extending between said guides, said mechanism including endless conveyors, wrapper engaging and feeding members carried by said wrapper for delivery in partially wrapped condianother portion of said web between said partially wrapped article and said wrapper web support means. and means for moving said conveyorsto cause one of said members to engage said supported portion of said web and travel from a position adjacent said wrapping guide to a position adjacentsaid infeed guide and thereby dispose an additional portion of said web in the path of the next article to be wrapped.

8. In a wrapping machine having spaced upper and lower article handling guideways. means for draping the free end portion of a continuous wrapper web between said guideways, and a conveyor for projectingl an article to be wrapped along.

said lower guideway into said free end of said continuous web to partially enwrap said article. a device for holding a portion of said web against endwise movement. web feeding and draping mechanism mounted between said guideways. said mechanism including endless conveyors. a pluiaiity oi' transverse rods secured to said conveyors. and meansoperative when a partially wrapped article has been positioned adjacent said upper guldewayfor driving said conveyors to cause one y frames, an infeed guide located at one level, and

conveyors and spaced equidistantly thereaiong,

ol' said rods to engage saidweb adjacent said device and while said web is held thereby to feed 'a length of said web and dispose the same in the path of thenext articleto be wrapped.

9. In a wrapping machine having spaced upper and lower article handling guideways. means for supporting the free end portion of a continuous wrapper web between said guideways, and a conveyor for projecting an article to be wrapped from 'l said lower guideway into the free end. of said continuous weblweb feeding and draping mechanism mounted between said guideways, said mechanism'including endless traveling supportlng members. a plurality of transversely extending loop pulling rods secured equidistantly apart on said supporting members, and means for moving said supporting members stepwise in timed relation to articles being advanced by said conveyor and along` said upper guideway to advance priins. traveling members, a plurality of web Pulling rods secured to said members. and means for moving said members in timed relation with the movement of said article lifter to drive-said members and cause one or said rods to engage said uncut web and pull a loop of web of a length sufficient to form the next wrapper. Y

11. In a wrapping machine having an article lifter, and means for moving said lif ter between an article receiving station. where an article is associated with a wrapper. and an article delivery station,'where a partially wrapped article is removed from said lifter. means operative adjacent said receiving station` for holding a portion or said web, mechanism for feeding and. disposing the free end of a continuous web in the path of an article at said receiving station comprising. travelingv members extending between said stations, web ensllins and feeding rods supportedby said members and spaced therealong,` means normally maintaining one of said rods positioned adjacent said delivery station for engagement with said supported web, while another of said rods is located remote from said delivery station, and means operative after said lifter has located a partially wrapped article at said delivery station for moving said members and said rods, said means being constructed and arranged to travel said first-named rod into'engagement with said supported portion of said web to feed a length thereof into the path of the next article fed to said receiving position for wrapping and advance said second named rod to the position vacated by said first-named rod adjacentsaid delivery station for feeding the next length of web.

12. Wrapper feeding mechanism for a wrapinto engagement with a continuous web of wrapping material for feeding a loop length of said ping machine comprising, means for suspending a portion of a web between two supports, and mechanism` for pulling said web relative to said supports to feed a length of web sufficient to form a wrapper, and to dispose said wrapper in the path of an article to be wrapped, said mechanism 'comprising conveyors, a device spaced from said means'for holding a portion .of said web, a plurality of web feeding means secured to saidconveyors, and means for intermittently driving said conveyors to travel said web feeding means seriatim between said first-named means and device termittently driving said conveyors to travel said web feeding devices seriatim into feeding and displacing relation with said web.

14. In a wrapping machine having vertically spaced article supporting and guiding surfaces, a

lifter table for'conveying an article partially enl veloped in a wrapper from one surface to the other, a web feeding guide, and means associated with said lifter table for clamping a portion of said wrapper; mechanism for feeding and disposing a wrapper web in the path of an article for engagement therewith as an article is placed on said table, including a plurality of spaced conveyors mounted between said surfaces, transverse web engaging rods xed to said conveyors, and means operative after said wrapper has been vclamped by said first-named means for moving said conveyors to cause one of said rods to travel between said guide and clamping means to engage and feed more web to form the next wrapper.

15. Wrapping mechanism comprising a-pair of spaced endless conveyors, wrapper engaging loop forming rollers connected at their ends 4to said conveyors, and spaced equidistantly therealong. and means for moving said conveyors to cause said rollers seriatim to engage and feed a loop of wrapper web into the path of an article to be wrapped.

16. Wrapping mechanism comprising a pair of laterally spaced endless conveyors mounted in substantiallyparallel vertical planes, transverse rods connected at their ends to said chains and spaced equidistantly along said chains, means for moving said conveyors to bring one of said rods web and means for cutting one end of said loop length of web and disposing the end thereof in the path of an article to be wrapped. l A

.17. In a wrapping machine provided with web feeding mechanism, an article guideway, means for supporting a wrapper draped across an end of said guideway, and means for projecting articles in succession from said guideway and into said wrapper to partially enwrap an article with said web extending uncut therefrom; wrapper feeding mechanism comprising endless conveyors, a plurality of rollers mounted on said conveyors eguidistantly spaced along said conveyors and feeding transversely therebetween, and meansoperative after the complete encirclement of a wrapper about each article for driving said conveyors to cause said rollers to engage said uncut extended portion of said web of wrapper material seriatim and drap the free end thereof in the path of the next article to be wrapped.

18. In a wrapping machine provided with web feeding and cutting mechanism, an article guide way, means for Asupporting a wrapper drapped across the end of said guideway, and means for projecting an article to be wrapped into said Wrapper and partially wrapping the same therein, a traveling wrapper draping mechanism, comprising endless conveyors ,positioned adjacent Aopposite sides of said guideway, a plurality of wrapper engaging vrollers mounted on said conveyors and extending therebetween equidistantly along said conveyors, means for driving said conveyorsto cause one roller after the other to engage said wrapper web and disposed the same in the path of the next article to be wrapped, and means for adjusting the position of said rollers relative to their point of engagement with said web for controlling the overlap of said wrapper on said article. I

19. In a wrapping machine provided with web feeding and cutting mechanism, an article guideway, means forV supporting a wrapper draped across the end of said guideway, and means for projecting an article to be wrapped into said wrapper and partially wrapping the same therein, a second wrapper supporting means for holding said web extended relative to said first named supporting means, endless conveyors positioned adjacent, opposite sides of said guideway, a plurality of wrapper engaging rods mounted on said conveyors and extending outwardly therefrom. said rods lbeing positioned equidistantly along said conveyors, means for intermittently moving said conveyors to cause said rods to travel between said first-named and second-named wrapper support means to engage said wrapper web seriatim and drape the same in the path of the next article to be wrapped, and means for cutting said wrapper at the conclusion of each moves ment of said conveyors.

20. In a wrapping machine, a mechanism for wrapping an article in the free end of a web of wrapping material including, a traveling web engaging member movable across the path of one article while another article is partially wrapped within the' free end of said web, means to complete the circumferential enwrapping of said lastnamed article in said free end, means for driv ing said member in a closed and continuous path during its coaction with said wrapper web, and means for controlling the amount of travel of said member after said member engages said web.

21. In a wrapping machine having web feeding and cutting mechanism, means for moving a succession of articles into said machine, and a guideway over which said articles are moved, mechanism for positioningl a wrapper web in the path of each article moving from said guideway, means for completing the encircleme'nt ot each wrapper about each 0f said articles, with said web extending uncut lupon said partially wrapped article,

` a traveling web feedingl member operative after 'a wrapper has been encircled about an article,

andv meansV for driving said member in a single direction and' in a. closed path into and out of engagement with said uncut web extending beyond said partialhr wrapped article for draping 4 the. free end of said web in the'path of the nextarticle to be wrapped, and means for cutting said web when the movement of said member ceases.

22. Wrapping mechanism comprising a pair of spaced driven conveyors, wrapper engaging rods connected at their ends to said conveyors spaced equidistantly thereal'ong, conveyor supporting .and driving members. 'shafts mounting said` members, means for moving said conveyors to cause said rods seriatim to engage and feed a length of wrapper, 'said means including a driven gear provided with avsleeve mounted on one of said shafts, a driving gear engaging said driven gear, and a' releasable clamp securedto said shaft and connecting said sleeve and shait forcommon motion; and means for loosening said clamp to disconnect said sleeve from said shaft driving' and driven gears when a roller has fed `a wrapper web into the pathof an article.

24. Wrapping mechanism comprising a pair of spaced endless traveling supporting members, wrapper engaging rods connected at their ends to said members and spaced "'.equidistantly therealong, means for moving said members to cause said rods seriatim to engage-and feed a wrapper web into the path oi an article to bewralpped including, rack and pinion driving means, driving and driven gears associated with said rack and pinion, means for lncapacitating said driving and driven gears wheva roller has fed a wrapper web into the path of an article, and means for adjusting the position o! said rollers relative to said web to advance or retard the engagement of a roller with said web.

ving means, drivconnected at their ends to said conveyors and 'spaced equidistantly therealong and constructed and arranged to ieed wrapping material into the path of articles to be wrapped, and mechanism .for moving said conveyors to cause saidl rollers seriatim to engage and feed a wrapper web, said vmechanism comprising 'a driven member for said conveyors, a driving member coacting with said Adriven member, a clutch associatedwith said driving member, means for intermittently moving said driving member, and a device coacting with said clutch for disconnecting the driving relation between saidv driving and driven members to stop vthe movement of said conveyors and rods after each rod has disposed a predetermined quantity of wrapping material in the path of an article I to be wrapped.

27. In a wrapping machine having vertically spaced article supporting and guiding surfaces, a lifter table for conveying an article partially enveloped in awrapper from one surface to another, and means for moving said partially wrapped article from said lifter table to complete the wrapping thereof, mechanism for feeding and disposing the free end of a continuous web of wrapping material in the path oy an article moving over said supporting surface including a pluraiity of spaced conveyors extending between said surfaces, web engaging devices nxed to said conl veyors, means operative after said table has conveyed an article to a-'point a'djacent said guiding surface for moving said conveyors to cause one of 'said devices to engage and feed. additional web for the next wrapper, clutch means for stopping the movement of said conveyors when said length of web has been fed, and means for severing said web to form said wrapper.

28. In a wrapping machine,I a pair of spaced conveyors, wrapper engaging rods connected to said conveyors and constructed and arranged to engage a web of wrapping material, mechanism for moving said conveyors to cause said rollers seriatim to feed a length of said web into position toI receive an article to be wrapped, said v mechanism comprising a driven member arranged to move said conveyors, a driving member for driving said driven member. a clutch asv sociated with said driving member, a throwout pawl mounted on said driven member, a toothed element on said driving member adapted to be engaged by said pawl, means for driving said driving member, a throwout rod constructed and arrangedto engage said pawl, and means operative when one of said rods has eii'ected the feed 25. Wrapping mechanism comprising a pair of spaced traveling conveyors. :wrapper engaging loop pulling rollers connected at their ends to said conveyors spaced equidistan'tly therealong. conveyor supporting and driving shafts mounting said members, and means for moving said con` of 'a predetermined quantity of web for moving said rod into engagement with said pawl to disengage said driving relationship between said driving and driven members and stop the movement of said rods.

29. Wrapping mechanism comprising a pair of spaced endless conveyors, wrapper engaging loop forming rollersconnected at ltheir ends to said conveyors, and spaced equidistantly therealong, means for moving said conveyors to cause said rollers seriatim to engage and feed a loop of wrapper web into the path of an article to be wrapped. and means for adjusting the position of said rollers relativevto they point of. engagement thereof withsaid wrapper web to control the length oi' loop fedby each of said rollers.

' LEON V. WHIPPLE.

JAMES D. WELLS.

Y CERTIFGATE' 0F CORRECTION. i Patent No. Animas. April 1v, 1915.

' :EON v. WHIPPLE, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above nunbere patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 19, olaimh., strike out "unidirectional" and insert the same -in line l?, same page and column, before the word "path"page 6, second column, line '50, claim 19, before "endless" insertl --a-traveling wrapper draping mechanism; page T, second column, line 26, claim 27,for "path Oy" read --path .of--g and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correction therein that the Same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 51st 'day of July, A. D. 1915.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Comissioner of Patents 

